Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
AAUW -CA international Advocacy Presentation
Host: Indrani Chatterjee
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
AAUW-CA International Advocacy
Opening Statement:
In September 2015, the member countries of the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be implemented over the next 15 years.
The fifth goal of the SDGs is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” Equality means having power, self-determination, access to information, and equal opportunities. Gender equality demands that women have a seat at the table and are also valued for their skills and contributions.
Today’s panel discussion will be focusing in gender equality, empowerment and challenges to achieve them.
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881 AAUW CA International Advocacy (Continue)
Opening statement was concluded with the quotes from powerful women and a Nobel Laureate:
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady of The United States, 1933 -1945)
“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory” Indira Gandhi (Third Prime Minister of India, 1917 - 1984)
“I am woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” Maya Angelou (Author, Poet, Civil Rights Activist, 1928 - 2014)
“The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” Rabindranath Tagore (1913 Received Nobel Prize in Literature, West Bengal, India, 1861-1943)
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society- 1
Panel Speaker 1- Jane Roberts
Discussion Topic
Sustainable Development Goal 5 Gender Equality • While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. • Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. • Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society- 2
Panel Speaker 2: Dr. Lenore Gallin
Discussion Topic
Women in Cuba Before and After Revolution
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881 Women in Cuba
WHY I KEEP GOING BACK TO CUBA
INSPIRED BY REVOLUTION
Admire bravery and sacrifices of its leaders who were sympathetic to plight of peasants
AS AN EDUCATOR
The revolutionary dream of a highly educated society has been fulfilled. What does it look like?
AS A FEMINIST What is next for Cuban women
PRE-REVOLUTIONARY CUBA
How It Was Life in Cuba dominated by a minority of wealthy people Sugar &, Tobacco Barons, Corrupt politicians backed by US corporations and the Mafia Playground of the Rich And famous
Prostitution, gambling, casinos… In contrast, majority of the Cubans very poor, especially in the countryside.
Illiteracy and illness unemployment was rampant
Malnutrition and hunger were widespread.
Housing without electricity or water
When women worked, it was mostly as servants for the rich.
Many women were forced into prostitution in order to survive & feed their families. -
Contraception was generally unavailable; abortion was illegal.
General lack of medical care meant that 80 percent of all babies were not born in hospitals. Many died at an early age.
But these terrible conditions would soon change……… THE REVOLUTION --
January 1959
Women played a part in the Revolution…
TRIUMPHS OF THE REVOLUTION
ILLITERACY
One of first obstacles for the new government to tackle was the fact that more than half of Cubans, disproportionately women, were illiterate.
Literacy brigades, in which women played leading roles, created the most literate society in the Western hemisphere SOCIAL CHANGE
Involvement of women outside the home facilitated positive change for women.
FIDEL CASTRO: Women’s entry into the workforce necessary not only for reasons of “elemental justice,” but because the male workforce was not enough.
Did the Revolution radically transform attitudes about women’s roles in Cuban society? Have the following obstacles disappeared?
sexist attitudes, job discrimination, burdens of childbearing & housework for women CUBA AFTER DÉTENTE
THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION OF CUBAN WOMEN
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society-3
Panel Speaker: Dr. Sipra Sengupta
Discussion Topic
Women’s Progress and Challenges in South Asia
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Over view of the situation of Women in South Asia
1. Economic Empowerment of Women 2. Health and Education 3. Political Empowerment of Women 4. Violence against Women 5. Disaster Preparedness and Management
Labour Force
Table 2: Statistical Indicators: Demographic and Health Indicators
Percent of Mater Percent of Total Births Women's Share of nal MinimumLegal Married Fertility Atten Life Expectancyat Mean Age Adults (15+) Country Morta Age Women15-49 Rate ded by Birth (years) atMarriage WithHIV lity forMarriage using (2007) Skilled 2005(%) Ratio Contraception Person nel
Any Mal Mal Modern Male Female Female Female Met e e Methods hod 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Afghanistan 7.11 1600 14 47.2 47.7 25.3 17.8 – – 5 4 – Bangladesh 2.98 230 13 63.7 65.6 25.5 18 21 18 58 47 13 Bhutan 3.89 255 24 63.5 66 – – 18 18 19 19 – India 2.79 301 43 63 66.5 23.4 18.7 21 18 48 43 29 Maldives 3.81 160 70 68.5 68.1 23.2 19.1 – – 42 33 – Nepal 3.32 415 11 62.8 63.9 21.5 17.9 20 20 39 35 22 Pakistan 3.77 500 23 64.4 64.7 26.5 21.7 18 16 28 20 17 SriLanka 1.87 59.6 97 72.4 77.7 27.9 24.4 18 18 70 50 – Major Development 1990-2013 in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) among SAR countries,
Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013 - WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank estimates, 2014 Education as a ‘Public Good’ The Benefits of Educating Girls
•Higher Wages •Faster Economic Growth •Smaller, Healthier, and Better Educated Families •Women’s Own Wellbeing •Female Empowerment •Female Education as an Investment. There is a growing sense of momentum around Education in South Asia. A greater awareness of gender disparity, but a long way to go. Political Empowerment of Women
Participation and Leadership: Politics, Policies, and the Media WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP Violence against South Asian and Women
21–55% of South Asian women report experiencing intimate physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime. Violence Against Women
KEY VAWC STATISTICS: 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience violence in her in lifetime. 1 in 5 women worldwide will survive rape or attempted rape. As much as 30 percent of women are forced into their first sexual experience. In some places, as much as 30 percent of children are sexually abused. Nearly 50 percent of all sexual assaults are against girls aged 15 or younger.
The Key Findings by The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level Paris, 23-24 May 2012
• ECONOMICS, SOCIAL NORMS and EMBEDDING GENDER EQUALITY POLICY Increased education accounts for about half the economic growth in OECD countries in the past 50 years. Economic growth in the future. • EDUCATION Enrolment in primary education is near universal in many countries. In many low-income countries, young women are more likely to be neither engaged in paid work nor in education or training than young men. • EMPLOYMENT Female employment participation has generally increased, and gender gaps in labor force participation have narrowed
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
Q&A Session
What role AAUW CA can play to support Global Women Issues?
Answer: Awareness is required at the branch/ grassroots level. A few recommendations are:
Celebrating International Women’s Day every year on March 8th to honor and discuss global women issue
Connect with UNA-USA local chapter
Follow AAUW National’s Global Connection
Partner with organizations like AWIU or Graduate Women International (GWI) to host an event to discuss any specific global women issue
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
Q & A Discussion
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
Members Feed Back
Great passionate speakers
Relevant and Inspiring
Great topic to keep us aware of global landscape
It was so interesting; I wish each speaker could have spoken longer
Liked comparison graph s and charts for Southeast Asia
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
Acknowledgement
Thank you AAUW CA Program Committee to include International Advocacy workshop in the Convention schedule. I am very passionate about the cause and will continue to share with the members in future.
Special thanks to Lynn Batchelor , Director AAUW CA and Program Committee Chair to support and attend the event.
Indrani Chatterjee International Advocacy- AAUW CA Program Committee Member of Fund Raising Committee- AAUW National
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
Women’s Progress in Today’s International Society
Special Appreciation
Speakers: Jane Robert Dr. Lenore Gallin Dr. Sipra Sengupta
Moderator: Sharon Westafer
Member Audiences Support and participation